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John Joline, Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for John Joline,
Sponsored by Darby Burwell '72.
Pomfret School 1959
Geoffrey Brownlee
July 1, 2010
John, Jo & Bitsy 1959
Geoffrey Brownlee
July 1, 2010
Mark Filimonov
June 12, 2010
Hi John IV,
My condolences on the loss of your father, John. I was doing a little surfing to see what you're up to and saw the news. I didn't know him, but if he's anything like you, he must have been extraordinary. I hope you're well. I'm still in California with my daughters and my girlfriend, katie.
Mark
Pierce Bounds
April 2, 2010
Darrow was so fortunate to have Mr Joline at the helm through some really difficult years. I arrived the year after the fires, an event that would have discouraged anyone, but you never saw that in Mr Joline. I know that he was not always liked by everyone, but I think just about every student who was there while he was headmaster now realizes how fortunate we all were. Thank you Mr Joline, well done!
During the Dedication of John Joline Arts Center
Ream Bruce
March 29, 2010
Who among us doesn’t need a pat on the back now and then, a strong embrace from a friend we admire or a soft touch on the shoulder, along with a knowing wink to confirm that we are on the right path and that we are …ok.
Mr. Joline is one of the Great Men in my life, who helped to magnetize my moral compass properly. His commitment to the standard of Noblesse Oblige, a passion for good causes, leadership by example, the ability for true forgiveness and his Core Values stood out among the rest of us on the Mountain. It was during my most selfish, juvenile, formative and happy time from 1968 to 1969 that an important stability in my life was replaced when Mr. Joline allowed me graduate with my classmates. You see, his gift was that he built Men.
I always knew that Mr. Joline liked me. As our lives grew and we saw each other less frequently, we did not lose any energy of Emotion for each other. He always offered a pat on the back when we were together and I gave him back a strong embrace; to a friend that I admire. I continue to honor him by following what he taught me: that we are here to use our gifts to help others. I will miss his soft touch and his knowing wink but he, along with others, has guided me to a point that I know that I am on the right path.
Bruce Ream
The Great Class of ‘69
Peter Gerster
March 22, 2010
John Joline was a leader and a friend.
I now shake my head when I think how many times my classmates and I "tested" Darrow and John over my four years there. I now appreciate how he passed every test and kept us all going in the right direction.
My condolences, to The Joline Family. John was a gentleman.
March 19, 2010
Mr. Joline was a steady and fair leader and did so much for Darrow. John once told my parents I was the first student who had successfully managed to room with Ivan Narodny. He was the 1965 class clown and not afraid to pick on anyone except Ed Mcilvain. Mr. Joline had a way of looking at us with a bit of a glare which turned into a smile and a hint of a wink and you knew he was up to our shenanigans and had better cut them out. Darrow was so lucky. Thank you John, I will always remember you. Rob Kendall class of 1965.
Sterling Pile
March 17, 2010
John Joline was a first class man in every way. He even had the foresight to not throw me out of school on several occasions! As a result, I received an excellent education, not to mention experience! If he had, I am sure my life would have been altered in ways that I couldn't imagine or predict. He left this world a better place!!
Sterling Pile, 1970
bob bean
March 14, 2010
Mr. Joline was more than a great role model for us, we all knew that right away. his image is still so clear in my mind.
bob bean, '73
David Blake
March 14, 2010
I began my years at Darrow at the same time that John Joline and his familly arrived, following in the large footsteps of a beloved former headmaster. Unlike John, I was a bit timid and unsure of myself in these new surroundings, but in the ensuing four years I learned and grew and did things I never would have otherwise considered but for his firm, caring and guiding hand.Through his daily life, he taught compassion and understanding, patience, integrity and unyielding determination in the face of fires and those who questioned his leadership and desire to succeed. All of us left Darrow better young men then when we entered and owe a great deal of gratitude to him for the strength of character that he passed along. My sincere thanks to Bitsy and Jo for having shared their dad with so many "step siblings", my thoughts and prayers are with you and with your dad.
David G. Blake, '65
Tom Mitchell
March 13, 2010
I will never forget John who was headmaster during my 4 years at Darrow. His leadership was strong and his will never ending. He is a man to remember - Tom Mitchell, class of 71
Harlan Strader
March 12, 2010
If I remember nothing else about John, it was his "vitality". He moved about the campus with purpose and enthusiasm.I will also never forget the deep personal connection he had with many of his students as they went off to college and in during my tenure, (1966-1970) to war in Vietnam.
He saved Darrow school on more than one occasion from both fire and financial ruin. His contributions to the longevity and success of the school are unmatched. My gratitude for his (and Jean's) contributions to the life of Darrow School are many and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Harlan Strader, 70'
Walter Steinlauf
March 12, 2010
Above all, John F. Joline III was a stellar "power-of-example" for me and many other young men in those days of Vietnam, the Hippie Culture, the Drug Culture, and all that that entailed. I thank God for the light that John cast into my life. I shall never forget him.
The "Meditation before Kaddish" is Devoted to John F. Joline III ~~
"When I die give what is left of me away
To children and old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.
I want to leave you something,
Something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.
You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,
And by letting go of children the need to be free.
Love doesn't die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,
GIVE ME AWAY."
Otto Marx
March 11, 2010
My Condolences to the Family. I am a 1965 Darrow graduate who started at Darrow the same year JJ did. That was the name we,the students, called him. I admired and respected him greatly and feel that Darrow and his leadership as Principle helped mold me .
Thank you Mr. Joline and my best to the Family. Otto Marx III Class 65
March 11, 2010
Though I never knew him his reputation was matchless.
Rufus W. Peckham, Jr.
Darrow-1945
Lee Smith
March 11, 2010
Courage and determination are the thoughts that come to mind when I think of Mr.Joline. He led us through a most difficult time at Darrow when we endured not one but two fires that tried to shut down our school.Without his leadership Darrow may not even be here today.
Curtis Sears Class of 1969
March 11, 2010
Only once in a great time do you meet someone who has helped shape the lives of many leaders in many disciplines throughout decades. John Joline did just that. I was a freshman at Darrow in 1965. What a transition in the world going on at that time. John was strict, compassionate and gave all of us boundaries to live within.
Of course the boundaries were there so we could see how to get around them - which we did and loved every second of it!
I will always remember John as the man who took the Shaker traditions, made them relevant to the 60's and the young men (at that time) who were entrusted to him, and gave us the foundation to be leaders in our chosen fields. Thank you John and Jean.
catherine and Edward Vinci Germar
March 11, 2010
We never met John Joline but, feel we owe him a debt of gratitude. Our daughter will graduate from Darrow School in June 2010. We marvel at what Darrow has done for her and we appreciate it every day.
Kit Howes
March 11, 2010
Mr. John Joline understood the importance of education, the bigger picture in all of our lives. I graduated from Darrow in 1970, not realizing at the time how fortunate I was to have attended a school that demanded excellence from its students, not only in academics, but in the way we conducted ourselves toward others. John's leadership was responsible for that culture of excellence that has served me throughout my life.
I hope to see many classmates at his memorial in June.
Robin Humphrey
March 11, 2010
I will always remember the mind and body shaping experiences I shared with John during my years at Darrow ... He will always be remembered as one of the most important people in my life. Robin Humphrey '63
David Groth '65
March 10, 2010
John Joline and I were Freshmen together at Darrow. Four years later I graduated and went on to make something of myself (hopefully) based on a firm foundation started at Darrow under the guidance of John and the other faculty. He stayed on to help Darrow become the lasting institution it is today. John was a friend as well as a man who used to be the headmaster. I was his first mate on the last sailing race of the summer season one year at Duxbury and we won the race, giving him enough points for "The Cup" His excitment and enthusiasm for that race was the same excitment and enthusiasm he brought to the mountainside that touched us all. The world, and our worlds, are a little bit less now that he is gone; but he will remain for a very long time in our memories which is the only immortality any of us can expect. God bless and God speed, John. I am the better for having known you.
March 10, 2010
While I attended Darrow only for my senior year, John Joline made a lasting impression on me with his leadership as my head football coach, and as the headmaster at the school. My sympathies go out to his family. John G. Foster '70 (Holland, MI)
Richard Barzin
March 10, 2010
Great memories of John and what he accomplished for and with Darrow
jon ereño
March 10, 2010
John Joline Darrow will always be with you. Thanks for helping Darrow
to be what Darrow is today, I do´t know you, I went to Darrow to study in another decade. From Bilbao all my condolences.
Jon Ereño, ´93
Culcer Tefft
March 10, 2010
John was great for Darrow and me.
Michael Hardiman
March 9, 2010
There's sadness in John's passing for not having him physically with us anymore, but also because it's another sign of the passing of what I still think of as -the magic Darrow of my youth, that he was important in helping to frame. There was a sensibility that he conveyed in his being about how it was possible to have a great and exciting life if you really worked at it -that I think I understood at the time and have leaned on when I have needed it throughout the years.
Decades later, it was pretty cool to come back and be important to a project (the Joline Art Center) that was in a large way about honoring this man who had a significant influence on my direction in life. I like to think he knew and got a little bit of a kick out of that.
Christopher solbert
March 9, 2010
The proud man John Joline, He carried himself with pride & dignity. He always had a Welcome hand for us all at Darrow.His mannerism & class I admired & keep to this day. All my condolences. Christopher '77
Gerry Laba
March 8, 2010
John Joline was an inspiration for us at St.Louis Country Day. Academically he instilled in us a love of literature and personally he set an example as role model for personal values he taught us and expected us to live up to. We carry those values within us today.
Maurice Hirsch
March 8, 2010
For those of us who were lucky enough to know him, he was always called "Moose." Back at St. Louis Country Day School in the 50s, it was our name for a man we respected and loved. He became our favorite teacher and, over the years, we kept in contact with him. His last visit with us was our 45th class reunion in 2003. We all gathered around a phone to talk to him at our 50th, when he was too ill to travel. We will all miss him. He had a strong influence on all of us.
Bill Ewald
March 7, 2010
I look forward to attending the Memorial service in June at Darrow.
Bill Ewald, '61
Jack Sturgis
March 6, 2010
Mr. Joline took me into his office early in the morning after I had gotten a motorcycle ride back from Troy. It seemed I had stayed too long at the Emma Willard Prom, had to jump the fence, and wound up at a frat house. One of the "brothers" offered to take me back to Darrow...Mr. Joline was not pleased. John was a great headmaster at a challenging time. His steady hand and patience made it possible for us to grow.
All the best!
Jim Wright
March 6, 2010
In the spring of 1961, an energetic young man bounded ( or so I like to remember the time) up my front walk at the Shaker Schoolhouse at Darrow School where my wife and baby daughter and I were living. It was John, and he was there to tell me the he regretted that I was leaving Darrow, and he wished I would stay. I wonder sometimes what life might have been like for me and my family had I backed out of the offer I had accepted at another school and stayed at Darrow.
When Lamb Heyniger died in the fall of 1960, he was President and Headmaster. No one was sure what would happen to the school and, with connections in the business and wanting co-education as a setting for my work, I early sought and found a spot elsewhere. I did not know at that point that that was an error. John "saved" the school, and it prospered under his leadership. I never saw him again. He was a kind, generous man as I learned from my former students who stayed on and graduated when he took over.
Adrienne Freeman
March 5, 2010
My Sincere condolences, to The Joline Family.
I was a young wild child when I first entered Darrow in my freshman year; I know that I was a pause for concern to Mr. Joline and several other’s on several occasions. Yet, through it all Mr. Joline showed me the strength and kindness one would expect from their Father. He was one of the few father figures I had my life. I feel lucky to have had him as my Headmaster. I am so glad that as I grew older I had the opportunity to see him from time to time at Darrow Reunion's and was treated with a hug and smile and a honest inquiry as to how I was doing. He will be greatly missed.
March 4, 2010
My deepest sorrow and condolences to Marjorie, John and Helen, and Eric and Ben. I just got back in town this morning and read Alex's e-mail about John being in hospice. I was going to respond this evening and then received her e-mail as I was sitting down to write a few minutes ago. I am so sorry that I didn't take the time this morning to write instead of catching up on business matters.
I was so very fortunate to have know John from my last two years as a student at Darrow, 1962 & '63. He was a wonderful man, always greeted one with a warm smile, handsome, articulte, tremendous personality, a great leader, and took us through some very difficult times with the 2 fires in '62. He and I tried to get the frozen hydrant open on that sub-zero night and did get the propane tank behind the dining hall turned off so it wouldn't explode. I think it was from that experience that he and I shared a special relationship.
Unfortunately, living in Colorado for the past 20 years, I did not have the chance to get back to Darrow to see John as often as I would have wanted. When I did, he always greeted me with a warm smile and strong handshake and immediately taked about those moments in '62.
When they named the Art Center after John, I couldn't have thought of a better person and was so happy for him.
Even though he may not be with us physically, he certainly is in our hearts and we'll remember him for all his wonderful characteristics.
I hope at some time that we may have the opportunity of meeting and sharing a hug. I'll remmebr "Mr. Joline" as one of the most sincere and warm men I've had a privledge to know. We all will miss him.
My love to you all.
Grant Bowry, '63
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